APCNews 122 – Shrinking internet freedom in Pakistan and S. Korea

APCNews – June 10 2010 – Year XI Issue 122

The news service on ICTs for social justice
and sustainable development

Recent
controversy over a Facebook event called “Draw Mohammed Day” led
Pakistani officials to ban the site and block hundreds of other sites
including YouTube and Wikipedia. After lifting the social
media ban on May 31, the Lahore High Court ordered authorities to find
ways to permanently block this “blasphemous content” in Pakistan.
Fearing that the measures will be misused by the government, APC member
in Asia Bytes For All is urging the government to stop
blocking and filtering the internet, “We condemn the blasphemous
content and hate speech,” says Bytes For All “but we urge the
government to stop blocking and filtering of the internet as it will
curb people's economic and social well-being."

ISLAMABAD
(Bytes for All) - After lifting the nationwide Facebook ban on May 31,
the Lahore High Court directed authorities to devise methods to
permanently block “blasphemous content” on the internet in Pakistan.
“We believe that this order will be misused by the government to block
citizens access to online activism and curb voices against corruption
and corrupt practices by the government functionaries and that an open
internet is essential in the fight for transparency,” says internet
rights defender Bytes For All. More
>>

JOHANNESBURG
(TP for APCNews) – The Republic of Korea has one of the highest
percentages of broadband internet connectivity in the world, yet it
trails miserably behind on internet freedoms, said a UN Special
Rapporteur on a recent visit to the country. APC member Jinbonet
reports that "Freedom of expression on the internet in South Korea is
facing a serious crisis.” Koreans who criticise the government have to
be prepared to allow articles be deleted or face prosecution.More
>>

JAKARTA
(Andrew Garton for EnageMedia) - Coinciding with World Environment Day
EngageMedia is launching a curated compilation of videos that deal with
climate change issues from an Asia-Pacific perspective. Time for Reel
Action (T4RA) is a video compilation of climate change
stories that explores the impacts, the action and climate solutions
emerging from the region.More
>>

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